Common Rider - This Is Unity Music
Label: Hopeless Records
Rating: 
 

Common Rider's sophomore release is honestly one of the best things I've heard in quite some time. This album seems to have a bit more of a "punk" sound than their previous release "Last Wave Rockers", but it still retains the ska roots and the message of unity that has made Jesse Michaels(vocals and guitar) the legend he is today.

The lyrics are fairly straight forward, but at the same time are written in a nifty metaphor laden style. With song titles such as "Blackbirds Vs Crows" and "Long After Lights Out one can easily grasp what Michaels is talking about, yet the songs also work on a whole other plain of existence. Perhaps best of all, the album never comes off as "preachy" despite it's social commentary backbone. Plus the songs are all very catchy. Catchy isn't a bad word in this case, if your familiar with Jesse's work then you know his brand of catchiness and to use Martha Stewart's phrase "its a very good thing". This album lacks nothing; I know that's a bold statement to make, but it's true! 

Now we have the requisite Common Rider/Op Ivy comparison, it must be a law you cannot mention Common Rider without bringing up Op Ivy in the same sitting. So here it is for this review: It can't be done, they are two different bands, from two different era's, sharing only a frontman and some of the same influences.  I can only hope Common Rider doesn't go the way of Operation Ivy because I cant wait to see what Jesse and company have in store for the future.

Its hard to really write anything other than "its good, its good" like some kinda drunken football announcer, but it really is that damn good. Fans from a wide spectrum of interests would more than likely find something to like about this album. Needless to say, I think I've found my pick for album of the year, unless The Clash reform and release an album of the caliber of "London Calling" then there might be some competition.